U.S. wins first gold medal of 2014 Sochi Olympics

By CNN Staff

updated 7:37 AM EST, Mon February 10, 2014

Sage Kotsenburg celebrates after completing his run during the final of the snowboard slopestyle in Sochi. He liked it and so did the judges as the 20-year-old American clinched the first gold of the 2014 Winter Games.

(From left to right) Silver medalist Staale Sandbech of Norway, gold medalist Sage Kotsenburg and bronze medalist Mark McMorris of Canada wave to the crowds from the podium following snowboard slopestyle medal ceremony.

Netherlands' Sven Kramer skates his way to gold in the Men's Speed Skating 5000m at the Adler Arena in Sochi.

The Dutch completed a clean sweep of the medals in the 5000m. (From left to right) silver medalist Jan Blokhuijsen, Olympic champion Sven Kramer and bronze medalist Jorrit Bergsma.

Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen shoots and skis his way to gold in the Men's Biathlon 10 km Sprint. The 40-year-old's victory make him the joint most decorated Winter Olympian of all time alongside compatriot Bjorn Dahlie. Both men have won an incredible 12 medals.

(From left to right) Silver medalist Austria's Dominik Landertinger, Gold medalist Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, and Bronze medalist Czech Republic's Jaroslav Soukup. Norway are top of the medal table after day one with two golds, one silver and one bronze.

Norway's Marit Bjoergen (left) skis her way to gold in the women's skiathlon ahead of Charlotte Kalla of Sweden.

(From left to right) Silver medalist Charlotte Kalla of Sweden, Marit Bjoergen and bronze medalist Heidi Weng also from Norway.

(From left to right) Silver medalist Chloe Dufour-Lapointe of Canada, gold medalist Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Canada and bronze medalist Hannah Kearney of the U.S. give a wave following the conclusion of the women's moguls event.

American Shaun White, the biggest name in snowboarding, withdrew from the competition before it began to focus on the men's halfpipe next week. The double Olympic champion, who had been nursing a wrist injury, withdrew Wednesday just a day after admitting the course presented an "intimidating" challenge.

Sidney Crosby celebrates after scoring Canada's second goal during the men's ice hockey gold medal match against Sweden on Sunday, February 23. Most of us know the Winter Olympics through the power of television, as a spectacle in constant motion. Seeing the Games through still photography is a different experience altogether. Here's a look at the most compelling images from the word's best photographers at Sochi 2014. | More photos: Falling down in Sochi

Canada's hockey team receives their gold medals in front of an ecstatic crowd on February 23.

Henrik Lundqvist, center, and his teammates on the Swedish hockey team received silver medals on February 23.

Chris Kunitz of Canada delivers a high stick to Marcus Kruger of Sweden during the hockey game on February 23.

Swedish goalie Henrik Lundqvist makes a save during the hockey final against Canada on February 23.

Canada's Jonathan Toews and Sweden's Alexander Steen chase the puck during the gold medal game on February 23.

An athlete takes part in the men's 50-kilometer mass start free on February 23.

Anke Karstens of Germany (silver), Julia Dujmovits of Austria (gold) and Amelie Kober of Germany (bronze) show off their ladies' parallel slalom medals on February 22.

Vic Wild of Russia, right, and Benjamin Karl of Austria compete in the men's parallel slalom snowboard semifinals on February 22.

Russian honor guards salute on February 22, during the ladies' speed skating team pursuit medal ceremony.

The Netherlands' Sven Kramer and Jan Blokhuijsen compete on February 22 in the men's speed skating team pursuit final.

Norway's Marit Bjoergen, front left, and Norway's Therese Johaug are followed by Norway's Heidi Weng and Sweden's Charlotte Kalla on February 22 as they compete in the women's cross-country skiing 30-kilometer mass start free.

Norway's Leif Kristian Haugen competes during the men's alpine skiing slalom run on February 22.

Ryan McDonagh of the United States falls on top of Kimmo Timonen of Finland on February 22 during the first period of the men's ice hockey bronze medal game.

Venue staff celebrate on February 22 following the completion of the snowboard men's and ladies' parallel slalom finals.

Emre Simsek of Turkey wipes out during the first run during the men's slalom on February 22.

Austria's Mario Matt celebrates after a men's alpine skiing slalom run on February 22.

Finland's Tuukka Rask and Kimmo Timonen celebrate after defeating the United States to take the bronze in men's ice hockey on February 22.

Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway in action on February 22 during the men's slalom.

Norway's Havard Bokko, Sverre Lunde Pedersen and Simen Spieler Nilsen compete in the final of the men's team pursuit on February 22.

Ireen Wust, Jorien ter Mors and Marrit Leenstra of the Netherlands compete during the semifinals of the women's team pursuit speed skating on February 22.

Gold medalists Anton Shipulin, Dmitry Malyshko, Evgeny Ustyugov and Alexey Volkov of Russia celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 4x7.5-kilometer relay.

From left, second place medalist Therese Johaug, first place medalist Marit Bjoergen and third place medalist Kristin Stoermer Steira, all of Norway, celebrate during the flower ceremony for the 30-kilometer mass start free on Saturday, February 22.

A course worker takes his shirt off to enjoy warm weather during the snowboard parallel slalom competition on February 22.

Canada's Jamie Benn, second from left, celebrates scoring the only goal in the men's hockey semifinal between Canada and the United States on Friday, February 21.

Players look toward the corner of the rink during the hockey semifinal between Canada and the United States.

Fans celebrate Canada's 1-0 defeat of the United States.

Ukrainian biathlete Valj Semerenko competes in the women's team relay on February 21.

Ukrainian biathlete Olena Pidhrushna fires her rifle on her way to winning the gold medal in the team relay.

Victor An of Russia celebrates winning the gold medal in the short track 5,000-meter relay on February 21.

South Korea's Park Seung-Hi, left, and Shim Suk-Hee compete in the short track 1,000-meter final on February 21.

Biathlete Ekaterina Shumilova of Russia competes in the women's team relay on February 21.

From left, silver medalist Kelsey Serwa of Canada, gold medalist Marielle Thompson of Canada, and bronze medalist Anna Holmlund of Sweden celebrate on the podium after the women's ski cross competition on February 21.

Iranian skier Forough Abbasi falls during the women's slalom on February 21.

From left, Polish speedskaters Natalia Czerwonka, Katarzyna Bachleda-Curus and Luiza Zlotkowska compete in the women's team pursuit quarterfinals on February 21.

Swedish goaltender Henrik Lundqvist celebrates his team's win against Finland in the hockey semifinals on February 21.

Slovakia's Paulina Fialkova, left, and the Czech Republic's Gabriela Soukalova compete in the women's biathlon relay on February 21.

Athletes compete in heavy fog during the women's ski cross quarterfinals on February 21.

From left, Sandra Naeslund of Sweden, Jorinde Mueller of Switzerland and Jenny Owens of Australia compete in the women's ski cross on February 21.

From left, American speedskaters Jonathan Kuck, Shani Davis and Brian Hansen compete in the men's team pursuit on February 21.

From left, Dutch speedskaters Ireen Wust, Charlotte van Beek and Jorien ter Mors compete in the women's team pursuit on February 21.

German biathlete Andrea Henkel competes during the women's relay on February 21.

Denise Feierabend of Switzerland competes during the women's slalom on February 21.

The women's hockey team from Canada celebrates Thursday, February 20, after Marie-Philip Poulin scored the game-winning goal in overtime to defeat the United States and win the gold medal.

Alex Carpenter, left, and American teammate Hilary Knight celebrate Carpenter's third-period goal during the Canada game on February 20.

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin, right, celebrates after scoring against the United States on February 20.

Russians Nikita Katsalapov and Elena Ilinykh, left, and Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White celebrate during the flower ceremony for the Olympic ice dancing competition Monday, February 17. The Americans won gold and the Russians won bronze.

The outfit of American ice dancer Meryl Davis is seen on February 17.

China's Zongyang Jia lands during the finals of the men's aerials on February 17.

Germany's Andreas Wank, center, celebrates with teammates after they won gold in the men's ski jumping event on February 17.

Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria jumps during the team ski jumping event.

American ice dancers Charlie White and Meryl Davis compete on February 17.

Nelli Zhiganshina and Alexander Gazsi of Germany compete in the ice dancing event on February 17.

Ice dancers Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy compete on February 17.

Russia's Nikita Katsalapov and Elena Ilinykh react after their ice dancing performing on February 17.

Biathletes compete in the women's 12.5-kilometer mass start event on February 17.

Alexander Zubkov and Alexey Voevoda of Russia won gold in the two-man bobsled on February 17.

Cross-country skier Esther Bottomley of Australia competes in the women's 10-kilometer classic on February 13.

Andrej Tavzelj of Slovenia checks Vyacheslav Voynov of Russia into the glass during the men's hockey game on February 13.

Charlotte Kalla of Sweden reacts after crossing the finish line in the women's 10-kilometer classic.

Norway's Therese Johaug competes in the women's 10-kilometer classic.

From left, American skiers Gus Kenworthy, Joss Christensen and Nicholas Goepper celebrate after the men's slopestyle competition on February 13. Christensen won gold, Kenworthy won silver and Goepper won bronze for the U.S. sweep.

Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu competes in the women's halfpipe semifinals on February 12.

Eric Frenzel of Germany celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's Nordic combined normal hill event on February 12.

Swiss skier Dominique Gisin reacts after finishing her run in the downhill event February 12.

Germany's Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl celebrate their win in luge doubles on February 12.

Alessandro Pittin of Italy leads a group of skiers during the cross-country portion of the men's Nordic combined event February 12.

Kaitlyn Farrington of the United States competes in the halfpipe February 12.

Benoit Lamy shows his support for Canada during the women's hockey game against the United States on February 12.

Canada's Meghan Agosta-Marciano, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against the United States.

Eetu Vaehaesoeyrinki of Finland leads a group of skiers during the men's Nordic combined on February 12.

Polish speedskater Zbigniew Brodka competes in the men's 1,000 meters on February 12.

Stephanie Magiros of Australia competes in the women's halfpipe.

Athletes ski during the cross-country portion of the men's Nordic combined on February 12.

American goalie Jessie Vetter makes a save in the second period of the Canada game on February 12.

Canada's Alexandra Duckworth competes in the women's halfpipe semifinals on February 12.

Sarka Pancochova of the Czech Republic grabs her snowboard in the halfpipe event February 12.

Americans Matthew Mortensen and Preston Griffall make a run during the men's luge doubles competition on February 12.

Italy's Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise perform their free program during pairs figure skating on February 12.

Canadians Natalie Spooner, top, and Meghan Agosta-Marciano celebrate Spooner's third-period goal against the United States on February 12.

Canada's Jocelyne Larocque, right, checks Megan Bozek of the United States during their hockey game.

China's Cai Xuetong competes in the women's halfpipe.

Skier Laurenne Ross of the United States reacts after her run in the downhill event February 12.

Dominique Gisin of Switzerland, left, and Tina Maze of Slovenia stand on the podium together after tying for the gold medal in the women's downhill February 12. The two skiers both finished their run with a time of 1:41.57.

Thomas Ulsrud of Norway slides with the curling stone during a match against Germany on February 12.

Skiers slide toward the finish line of the women's downhill event February 12.

Jacqueline Wiles of the United States skis past a chairlift during the women's downhill on February 12.

Julia Mancuso of the United States skis in the downhill on February 12.

Slovenian skier Tina Maze kisses the ground after her downhill run on February 12.

Germany's Maria Hoefl-Riesch catches her breath after her downhill run.

Monaco's Alexandra Coletti is taken to a helicopter after crashing during the downhill.

Tim Hug of Switzerland completes a trial jump during the normal hill Nordic combined event on February 12.

Julia Marty of Switzerland and Jenni Hiirikoski of Finland collide during the second period of their women's hockey game February 12.

Magnus Krog of Norway slides down the normal hill ski jumping ramp during the Nordic combined on February 12.

Edit Miklos of Hungary competes in the women's downhill on February 12.

Switzerland's Lara Gut makes her way down the mountain in the women's downhill.

Andrew Newell of the United States leads Norway's Eirik Brandsdal as they ski past the Olympic rings during the men's cross-country sprint on Tuesday, February 11.

Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia compete in pairs figure skating on February 11.

Canada's Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford perform their short program in the pairs figure skating event.

A picture taken with a robotic camera shows French biathlete Martin Fourcade, right, celebrating his gold medal in the 12.5-kilometer pursuit. To his right is silver medalist Ondrej Moravec of the Czech Republic.

Flower bearers walk toward the podium during the women's ski slopestyle final on February 11.

Snowboarder Scotty James of Australia competes in the men's halfpipe on February 11.

Ida Ingemarsdotter of Sweden leads a pack of skiers in the women's cross-country sprint on February 11.

American Erin Hamlin gestures after one of her runs in the luge on February 11.

Cross-country skiers compete in the finals of the men's sprint event February 11.

Biathletes compete in the women's 10-kilometer pursuit on February 11.

Slovakian biathlete Anastasiya Kuzmina, foreground, skis away from the shooting range during the 10-kilometer pursuit on February 11.

Sweden's Teodor Peterson competes in the men's cross-country sprint on February 11.

Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France compete in pairs figure skating on February 11.

Snowboarder Seamus O'Connor of Ireland competes in the men's halfpipe semifinal on February 11.

British skier Katie Summerhayes celebrates during slopestyle qualifying on February 11.

Canada's Yuki Tsubota competes in the women's slopestyle event on February 11.

France's Alexis Pinturault skies February 11 during a downhill training session for the men's super-combined event.

A picture taken with a robotic camera shows Dutch speedskater Sven Kramer competing in the 5,000 meters. Kramer won gold in the event for the second straight Olympics.

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony, which was held at Fisht Olympic Stadium on Friday, February 7.

The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony.

Artists perform during the opening ceremony.

Olympic sports are depicted with lights during the opening ceremony.

Statues are raised during the opening ceremony.

Performers sing during the opening ceremony.

The Olympic cauldron is seen over Olympic Park on February 7.

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Photos: Visions of Sochi

Fireworks explode over Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia, as the Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Games on Friday, February 7.

Two of Russia's greatest athletes, Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretiak, light the Olympic cauldron. Rodnina was a three-time gold medalist in figure skating. Tretiak won three golds as goalie of the Soviet hockey team.

Bjoergen, a star of the 2010 Vancouver games, is expected to be a dominant force in the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Defending Olympic champion Sven Kramer of Netherlands then took gold in 5,000 meter speed skating, smashing the previous record. Compatriots Jan Blokhuijsen and Jorrit Bergsma came second and third.

The day's fourth gold went to Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway, in the biathlon men's 10km sprint. His efforts made him the joint most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, with compatriot Bjorn Dahlie. Dominik Landertinger of Austria took silver while Jaroslav Soukup from the Czech Republic got the bronze.

In the final event of the first day, Canadian sisters Justine Dufour-Lapointe and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe claimed the gold and silver in the women's moguls. Defending champion Hannah Kearney from the U.S. had to settle for the bronze.

The Olympics kicked off with much fanfare at the opening ceremony Friday.

Billed as the most expensive Olympic Games in history, the opening ceremony kicked off with lights, floats and flying performers as the world turned its attention to Russia.

Despite anxiety about terror strikes, controversy over gay rights and ridicule for poor preparations, the nation's officials have maintained that the sites in Sochi are secure.

It will be "the safest place on Earth during the Olympics," said Dmitry Chernyshenko, head of the Games.